Rotating window weather seal



June 30, 1959 R. A. GILLESPIE ROTATING WINDOW WEATHER SEAL P055622 ,4.64:55 m- 1 y M Q m Arraeway Filed Feb. 24, 1958 United States PatentROTATING WINDOW WEATHER SEAL Russell A. Gillespie, Indianapolis, Ind,assignor to Engineering Metal Products Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind.,a corporation of Indiana Application February 24, 1958, Serial No.716,908

Claims. (CI. 20-53) This invention relates to means for providing aweather seal on windows which are mounted to rotate on a vertical axis,such as on a central vertical axis, whereby the seal may be removed orbroken from engagement for the purpose of rotating the window primarilyto wash it on the outside and then return the window to its normalposition, all in such manner that the seal may be used over and overagain without any substantial deterioration for many years at least.

This invention primarily comprises a flexible strip of sealing materialwhich is normally anchored by a foot in the window frame and will extendacross the gap between the window sash and the frame and interlock by anend portion with the sash, and be removable from .its interlockingconnection with the sash while the other end remains fixed all in amanner such that the strip will not interfere with the opening andclosing of the window.

In modern buildings, air conditioning is employed which means thewindows are not intended to be open to let in outside air either inwinter or in summertime. However in tall buildings, such as in ofiicebuildings, it is necessary to wash the outersides of the windows as wellas the insides from time to time, and therefore it is not practical tofix the window sash in position, but to provide means for rotating thatwindow sothat the outside may be turned to come on the inside of thebuilding for cleaning purposes, following which the window may bereturned to have that side again presented outwardly of the building.

Such a window 'sash mounting presents a problem in sealing against theentrance of air and dust to the end that the inside air will not becontaminated by the outside air and the material which may be carried byit. The air conditioning system will of course provide the necessaryinterchange of air within the space inside of the window, and heating ofcourse will be had all in the usual and well known manner.

Therefore the solution of the problem of sealing the window against theentrance of outside air and contaminations has to be made by a separablemember releasable from the window or the window frame as the window maybe rotated. The invention involves the solution of that problem, havingfor its primary purpose the provision of a tape of flexible materialwhich will carry a foot to be held by either the sash or the frame,herein described as being held by the frame, and to carry what may betermed a head which is releasably engaged around the perimeter of thesash.

Further advantages of the invention reside in the fact that tools arenot required to release the sealing tape from the sash, nor are toolsrequired to restore it to its sealing condition in engagement with thesash.

Of course the tape'will have that purpose of'eifecting a complete andtight seal at all times when the window is not in the rotated positionbut is in its normal position of usage.

The invention is described in reference to the accompartying drawing, inwhich:

Fig. 1 is a view in front elevation of a fragmentary tion is applied;

Fig. 2 is a muchenlarged view in section on the line 22 in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a detail in further enlarged scale of the sealing means, shownin section;

Fig. 4 is a view in transverse section of a modified form of the sealingtape;

Fig. 5 is a detail in transverse section through the sash and framemembers showing the modified form of tape mounted in sealing position;

Fig. 6 is a detail in section of a further modified form of the sealingtape in mounted, sealing position; and

Fig. 7 is a detail in section of a still further modified form of thesealing tape inmounted, sealing position.

Referring first to Figs. 1 and 2, a frame generally designated by thenumeral 10 carries a window sash generally designated by the numeral 11carrying a window glass '12. The frame and sash members are commonlymade out of extruded metal forms as indicated in Fig. 2.

The sash 11 is mounted in most instances to be carried by the frame 10on trunnions extending vertically both upwardly and downwardly from thesash 11 (not shown). It is suflicient to point out that the sash 11moves past the frame 10 in theopening therethrough. This means thatthere will be a gap 13 between the perimeter of the sash 11 and theopposing wall 14 of the frame. It is this gap 13 which needs to beclosed and sealed off to prevent thetransmission of air therethrough.

A flexible sealing strip generally designated by the numeral 15 isformed to have a foot 16 engageable within a T-slot 17 of the frame it).The foot .16 is preferably made to be somewhat smaller in its dimensionsthan are the dimensions of the slot 17 so that the foot 16 may beinserted therein, and to this end, the foot 16 has a portion 17a longeron the one side than on the other side, this other side 17b having anunder rounded surface.

The strip 15 extends by a neck 18 from the slot 17, and is formed tohave a major length 19 of a thickness reduced from that of the neck 18,the neck thickness 18 being continued around through the portion 20 tomerge into the length 19 immediately at one side of the slot 17.

The tape 15 is thus initially formed to have the length 19 extendingapproximately in parallelism with the foot 16, and preferably inclinedsomewhat downwardly toward the plane of the underside thereof.

On the side of the tape 15 and toward the outer end portion of thelength 19, there is turned therefrom a tongue 21 on the outer end ofwhich there .is a head 22, in cross-section "shaped somewhat as anarrowhead. There are two projecting shoulders fromthe underside of thehead 22, namely 23 and 24 extending respectively from opposite sides ofthe tongue 21. Preferably the member 21 is provided with a hollowinterior such as by the slot 25 extending lengthwiseof that member.

It is to be understood that the tape 15 is made in length at least equalto a side of the glass carrying frame 11. Normally the tape 15 will bepositioned in reference to the frame 10 as indicated by the solid linesin Fig. 3, and by the dash lines in Fig. 2. Referring to Fig. 2, thelength 19 has been bent around as indicated from the dash line positionto the solid line, and correspondingly in Fig. 3 from the solid lineposition to the dash line position. In carrying the tape around to theposition shown in Fig. 2, the head 22 has been forcibly pressed into aT-slot 26 through the restricted entry slot 27, the interior of theT-slot 26 being herein shown as rounded from the rear or innermostportion to shoulders 28 and 29 provided on each side of the entry slot27, Fig. 3. The slot 26 is sufficiently deep, so that the shoulders '23and 24 of the head '22 may be carried on through the entry slot '27 andexpand outwardly one from the other 3 to come behind the shoulders 28and 29 whereby the tape 15 will then be held into position as indicatedin Fig. 2. There is a further sealing effect had by reason of the factthat the tape15 has a short length 30 extending outwardly beyond themember 21 in the plane of the length 19, this portion 30 having abeveled end 31 which is inserted under the overhanging shoulder 32 ofthe sash 11, Fig. 3.

As will be noted in the drawing, the tape 15 is mounted on that portionof the frame which will permit the tape to be exposed on the inner sideof the window sash 11 where it can be manipulated as above indicated.There may be an additional sealing means 33 interposed between the sash11 toward its outer face and toward the outer face of the frame 10, Fig.2. However this is in addition, if it be employed, to the sealing tape15. The primary purpose of using the sealing means 33 would be toprevent water, snow and dirt from accumulating in a channel 34 of theframe 10 where such channel is employed in the extruded metal parts.

Reliance is placed in the form of the strip 15 above described on itsformation in the shape shown in Figs. 2 and 3 to position the tape 15along the edge of the frame 10 as indicated in Fig. 3 when it isreleased from the sash 11 to permit swinging of the sash as aboveindicated. In other words it is desirable to have the head 22 well downout of the way so that it will not be damaged nor will it obstruct therocking of the sash.

In order to release the tape 15 from the sash 11, a tab 35 is providedto be carried by the tape 15, in a fixed manner, to extend across asmall area of the sash 11 so that this tab 35 may be grasped as a meansfor pulling the head 22 out of the T-slot 26 whereupon the tape may bepeeled back from the engagement with the sash 11. The intersections ofthe end and side lengths of tape about the sash 11 may be either in apreformed integral connection, or may be left disengaged and merely onelength abutted against the other.

Referring to Figs. 4 and 5, a modified form of the tape is shown, hereindesignated in general by the numeral 15a. The distinction between theform 1511 and the form 15 resides simply in the angularity of the length19a in reference to the foot 16. Here the length 19a extends at rightangles to the foot 16, and this is done for a mounting of the foot in aninner side portion of the frame 10a instead of in the inner edge portionas shown in Figs. 2 and 3. In this mounting as shown in Fig. 5, the tape15a will normally extend from the frame 10a in the dash line position,since it is originally formed in that condition, and then is bent aroundto engage in the T-slot 26 as above indicated to come into the solidline position, Fig. 5. 7

Referring to Fig. 6, there is shown a further modified form of themounting of the tape herein designated by the numeral 15b. The tape 15bhas the foot 16 fitting in the T-slot 17, and extending therefrom, fromthe inner edge of the frame 10b by a thick neck 18b, but in this formthe tape 15b takes off by the length 19b normally in parallel relationto the plane of the under side of the foot 16, the tape length 1% thentending to curve outwardly from the edge of the frame 10b in the planeof and parallel with the sash 11 inner side. This T-slot 17 is mountednear the inside face 10c of the frame 16b and is the T-slot as shown inFigs. 2 and 3. In other Words, in this form shown in Fig. 6, the tape15b tends to bear compressibly against the sash 11, and readilypositions itself so that the head 22 may be pushed into the slot 26 toseat the outer end portion of the tape 15b snugly against the sash 11.

When the tape 15b is to be disengaged from the sash 11, the tab 35 maybe grasped to pull the head 22 from the slot 26, and after the tape 15bhas been peeled out of the slot 26 and is free from the sash 11, it maythen be pushed downwardly into the longitudinal cavity 36 which extendsentirely around theframe 10b in a posi- .4 tion outwardly from the face10c in respect to the T- slot 17. This cavity 36 is sufiicient to permitthe head 22 to enter therein and the tape 15b to be pushed completelywithin with the exception of a short length extending over to the neck18b. Thus the tape 15b is stored in a position completely out of the wayand beyond interference with the opening of the sash 11. It may bepulled back out of that cavity 36 by grasping the tab 35 so that thetape 15b may then be restored to its sealing position after the sash 11has been returned to its closed condition. In the mounting as shown inFig. 6, the tape 15b will normally extend from the frame 10b insubstantially the solid line position since it is originally formed inthe condition, and then is bent downwardly to be tucked into the cavity36 as above indicated to come into the dash line position.

A still further modified form of the mounting of the tape is shown inFig. 7, wherein the tape is generally designated by the numeral 15c. Thetape 15c also has the head 22 pushed into the slot 26 of the sash 11 toseat the outer end portion of the tape thereagainst, but here acylindrical foot member 37 replaces the foot 16 on the opposite end ofthe major length 190 so that the foot member 37 may pivot within acylindrical slot 38 in the frame 10d. The slot 38 envelops a majorlength of the circumference of the foot member 37, thereby retaining themember 37 therewithin and limiting the degree of travel of the tape 15ctoward and away from the sash 11. Here the length 190 is not a planarlength but is rather formed at an approximate central zone in a positionout wardly from the plane of the inner side of the sash 11 to connectwith the member 37 therebelow. Preferably the member 37 is provided witha hollow interior such as by the aperture 39 extending lengthwisetherethrough.

When the tape 15c is to be disengaged from the sash 11, the tab 35 maybe grasped to pull the head 22 from the slot 26, in effect freeing thetape from the sash 11 and permitting the tape 15c to swing downwardly tothe dash line position, Fig. 7. In the form of the invention as shown inFig. 7, the tape 150 does not normally compressibly bear against thesash 11, nor is it ever in a deformed condition, either in the sealingposition or in the disengaged position, since the foot member 37 pivotswithin the slot 38 thus allowing the tape 150 to swing to and from thesash 11.

Thus it is to be seen that by carrying the seal entirely around the gap13, across the top and bottom sides of the sash 11 and across thevertical sides thereof, a complete closure of that gap is had, and airwill not be permitted to enter the room from that gap by reason of thedouble seal obtained, in fact a triple seal in effect. It is to be seenthat the air tending to enter from the outside of the sash 11 throughthe gap 13, if it escapes past the seal 33 will have to travel againstthe tape 15, and then spread into directions, first in trying to goaround the member 21, around the head 22 past the shoulders 23 and 24and then out and around between the sash and the extension 30 andfinally around through the abutment of the end 31 with the shoulder 32,or at the other edge of the tape 15 the air having to enter along theneck 18 into the T-slot 17 to travel around under the foot 16 and thenceupwardly and around the neck again. There will be suflicient flexibilityand also elasticity in the tape 15 to cause it to be pulled outwardlyslightly to seat the portions 17a and 17b against the shoulders of theT-slot 17.

Therefore it is to be seen that a very effective seal for the purposeindicated has been produced, and while the invention has been shown inthe forms described, in more or less detail, it is obvious thatstructural variations may be employed all without departing from thespirit of the invention, and I therefore do not desire to be limited tothose forms beyond the limitations which may be imposed by the followingclaims.

I claim:

1. For weather sealing between a window sash with a fixed frame, inrespect to which frame the sash is rotatable, said sash having a slotaround a marginal portion thereof; said frame having a slot around amarginal portion thereof; a flexible sealing tape bridging across fromthe frame to the sash; a foot along said tape at one edge thereof andentered and held within one of said slots; a head carried by andextending along the tape at the other edge portion and detachablyentered in the other of said slots.

2. The structure of claim 1 in which said sash slot is approximatelyT-shaped providing shoulders extending within the slot oppositely froman entry slot, and said head enters the sash slot and has oppositelyextending shoulders engaging behind said slot shoulders; and said sashslot enters from the inner side of the sash.

3. The structure of claim 2 in which said sash has an overhangingshoulder along and spaced from its slot, and said tape has an edgeportion extending beyond said head and engages under said overhangingshoulder.

4. The structure of claim 2 in which said frame slot is approximatelyT-shaped and there extends edges of said frame opposing said sash, andsaid tape normally tends to extend across and against one of said frameedges when said head is disengaged from said sash slot, requiring it tobe bent to enter said head in the sash slot.

5. The structure of claim 2 in which said frame slot is along and aroundan inner side face of the frame, and said tape tends to extend normallyfrom said face.

6. The structure of claim 2 in which said frame slot is approximatelyT-shaped, and said tape normally tends to extend from said frame acrossand against said sash inner side.

7. The structure of claim 2 in which said frame slot is approximatelycylindrically shaped and said foot is approximately cylindrically shapedpivotally entering within said frame slot; said tape swingably extendingfrom said slot to and from sealing engagement with said sash.

8. For weather sealing between a window sash and a window frame, saidsash having a slot entering it from an inner face around a marginal zonethereof; said frame having a slot entering it around its marginal edgeportions; a flexible tape extending from the frame to the sash; a footextending longitudinally along one edge portion of the tape and confinedwithin one of said slots; a head having a shoulder extending along theother edge portion of said tape and entered within the other of saidslots.

9. The structure of claim 6 in which there is means for withdrawing saidhead from said other slot permitting movement of the sash relative tosaid frame.

10. The structure of claim 6 in which said head is compressiblelaterally of said other slot for insertion therein and withdrawaltherefrom.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,507,965 Eichner May 16, 1950 2,572,124 Eichner Oct. 23, 1951 2,797,958Podolan July 2, 1957 2,805,741 Evans et a1. Sept. 10, 1957

